Arsenal Fear Missing Out On Meyer

Germany International Linked With Bayern

Image: Daniel Kraski

Arsenal are one of a number of sides being linked with Schalke 04 midfielder Max Meyer.

The 22-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and is being linked with a number of clubs. Liverpool were said last summer to be keen on the Germany international. Barcelona and AC Milan are interested.

But if reports from Spain are to be believed then Meyer’s future has already been decided. Barca are looking at Meyer to replace the ageing Andres Iniesta. However, the Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo claims that just like his Schalke team-mate Leon Goretzka, Meyer will end up at Bayern Munich this summer.

The paper claims that Barcelona have already begun to look elsewhere for an alternative. The prospect of a free transfer made Meyer an attractive proposition. Other targets for Barca are Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann who has a release fee of €100million (£88millon) or Arthur Melo who plays for Brazilian side Gremio.

Talks have taken place between Meyer and both Arsenal and Barcelona.

Bayern are looking for a replacement for the Chile international Arturo Vidal. When asked about Meyer at the weekend the Bundesliga giants’ sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic admitted he was a “super player” and refused to rule out a summer move.

January Signings ‘May Have Dented Lacazette’s Confidence’

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits that January signings made by the club may have dented the confidence of Alexandre Lacazette.

The £52million summer signing has been relegated to the bench since the arrival of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last month. Lacazette came on as a substitute in Saturday’s north London derby defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. But he missed two good chances late in the game and Wenger admits the striker has been put under pressure.

“Maybe the confidence is not at its highest because he has seen a competitor coming in,” said Wenger.

“But, for him, one against one with the keeper, he is still a good goal-scorer. He has gone through difficult periods before.

“He works hard in training, works on his finishing. I don’t know what happened, did he not touch the ball well? It can happen, it is a fraction of a second. But he created two chances. That is a quality as well.”

Saturday’s result leaves Arsenal in sixth place in the Premier League seven points adrift of a top-four spot.